CHAMPCAR/CART: Houston Police Department Bicycle Challenge

The Houston Police Officers Bicycle Patrol will hold a preliminary
qualifying session on Saturday, May 13 at Memorial Park to determine the
top 60 riders for the 3rd annual Grand Prix Challenge.
Due to the tremendous interest among the officers...

The Houston Police Officers Bicycle Patrol will hold a preliminary
qualifying session on Saturday, May 13 at Memorial Park to determine the
top 60 riders for the 3rd annual Grand Prix Challenge.

Due to the tremendous interest among the officers to compete in the
Challenge, the field has expanded for 2000 from 30 officers to 60. Over
120 officers are expected to compete in the qualifying session.
Saturday's program is part of the City of Houston's Fun Day in the Park.

Houston Cellular, already a major supporter of the Houston Police
Department, is the presenting sponsor of the Challenge. "We are proud to
be involved in the sponsorship of the Challenge as it enhances our
continuous support of the Houston Police Department and their efforts to
support community safety," said Houston Cellular President, Don
Kovalevich.

The qualifying session on Saturday, May 13 at Memorial Park will begin at
10:00am. The competitors will run a three-mile time trial. Following the
time trial is additional competition including an obstacle course and a
miniature bicycle race. All events will be scored to determine the
winning police station in the Houston area. There will be 15 stations
competing.

During the 3rd annual Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston which will
take place September 29, 30 and October 1, the sixty officers, racing
their bikes two laps around the 1.53 mile, 10 turn grand prix course, will
compete for a cash purse to be donated to the Houston Police Department's
Assist the Officer Foundation. The racers are expected to hit speeds of
30 mph as they careen around the course on their two-wheeled racing
machines.

HPD's bicycle patrol started in 1990, with 14 officers patrolling the
downtown streets. The Houston bike patrol, the nation's largest, has
grown to over 400 officers on the street and nearly 700 certified as bike
patrol officers.